Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like others, I welcome the annual roads funding that has been allocated to our local authorities. Roads funding is the bread and butter of our local authorities and what our hard-working councillors deal with daily, be it in respect of potholes, drainage, flooding, maintenance or sinking roads. It is vital for the remediation of these problems and for the community involvement scheme, which is a safety measure in respect of available lands. These are issues that all public representatives deal with, but our local councillors in particular.

I welcome the allocation to Galway of €36.23 million, which will include €400,000 do na droichid agus na calaidh atá ceadaithe do na hoileáin chun obair shábhailteachta a dhéanamh and €50,000 for a pedestrian crossing near the playground in my village of Moycullen. Projects like the Athenry relief road will allow for the proper and sustainable development of communities.

There will also be a range of investment in public transport measures. It should never be an either-or situation. Roads funding is vital, be it for private cars, ambulances, fire engines, buses or bringing children to school. We need to maximise investment in all counties. We know the important work that local councillors do. This funding will be welcomed, but speaking as a former member of a local authority, there is never enough funding and there is always an increase in demand. We will always have to be conscious of that.